Sewing-machine-motor control



HTF.

Umm

Jan. 9, 1923.

3SHEETS-SHEET1.

FILED SEPT 14,1921.

Jan. 9, 1928.

F. F. HILLIX.

SEWING MACHINE MOTOR CONTROL.

FILED SEPT I4, I92I.

Jan. 9, 1923.

F. F. HILLIX. sEwxNO MACHINE MOTOR CONTROL.

3 SHELTSWSHEET. 3.

FILED SEPT 14,1921.

Patented Jan. 9., i923.

UNITED STATES PATENT y OFFICE.

FOSTER F. HILLIX, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WHITESEWING MACHINE COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SEWING-MACHINE-MOTOR CONTROL.

Application led September 14, 1921. Serial No. 500,700.

.To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known'that I, FosTnR F. HILLIX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland in the county of Cuyahoga and State of hio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sewing-Machine- Motor Controls, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a control for motor driven sewing machines. The principal object is to provide a control ldevice or mechanism of such a nature that the driving motor can be controlled more conveniently and effectively than with the prior controlling devices. y

Further the invention aims to provide a foot control, i. e. a control mechanism which is operated by the foot, and which can, if de*y sired, be used as a knee or leg control.

Still further the invention aims to provide a control which can be conveniently operated and requires so little physical effort that the machine can be run with practically no mental effort devoted to the control. That is to say, the operator may hold the control lever displaced so as to run the machine with the foot in comfortable position on the Hoor and will hardly be conscious that she is doing so. Vith the present control, the operators foot actually rests lat on the floor, which is the most comfortable position for the feet of the operator, and the operator operates the control by moving her foot slightly to a new position where it still restsfiat on the iioor.

It is still a further obj ect to provide a con-- trol which is universal in its action and which will fit any operator and suit the whims-of any operator, making it possible to control the motor in practically any way she may desire.

Referring now to my invention, I provide a control including a depending actuating member which is designed to be laterally displaced primarily by a lateral movement of the foot when resting on the floor, whereas with all other foot controls of `which I am aware, the motor is controlled by an up and down or rocking motion imparted to a pedal or equivalent device.

It is a further feature of the invention that the actuating device has a universal mounting which enables the operator to control the motor by displacing the device from normal position laterally in any direction,

foot control and also the position where it may serve as a knee or leg control, and to various other positions to which the operator may desire to move it for the control of the motor. Likewise, the actuating member may be swung to a concealed position such that it is substantially within the connes of the walls of the cabinet as when the machine is not in use. All the above changes or adjustments are made without the adjustment of any screws or other devices. Further, the actuating member is held in any position to which it is moved automatically, and all that is required is to swing the actuating member to the desired position where the mechanism is to be operated. Y

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations-and arrangements of parts and details of construction which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings whereiny I have shown one embodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a front view of a sewing machine equipped with my improved control, part of the cabinet or stand being broken away 'and the actuating member of the control being in the position that it is usually pla-ced when used as a foot control; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the cabinet with the parts viewed lookingtoward the right of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing particularly the mounting for the movable actuating member of the control, this View being in effect a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view looking toward the rear of the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 5; Fig. 5 is a sectional view substantially along` the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5` showing the movement which takes place when the actuating member is shifted from normal or oil position, it

ling platform 12.

being understood that the off or normal position is the position of the actuating member when the motor circuit is open.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 represents a conventional form of sewing machine cabinet or stand, and 11 represents the sewing machine head. As the invention is frequently employed with, and is especially adapted for sewing machines of the drop-head type, the head 11, may, as shown in Fig. 2, be mounted on a swing- The motor for driving the machine may be mounted at any suitable point such as on the platform 12, or on the arm of the head, and in this instance, for convenience it is shown as mounted on the rear side of the arm of the head, the motor being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and designated 13. The drive between the motor and operating shafty of the sewing machine may assume any desired form, as for example, the friction drive, in which event the motor will have a small wheel 13a frctionally engaging the hand wheel 11a of the head 11.

The rheostat for controlling the operating motor 13 is shown at 14,and in this instance the rheostat is mounted on theunder side of the swinging platform 12, but this particular arrangement or point of attachment of the rheostat is not essential to my invention. Thel details of the rheostat constitute no part of the present invention, and it will be suflicient to state that it includes a movable arm which when swung in one direction starts the motor and gradually cuts out resistance so as to increase its speed, and when moved in the reverse direction toward off position, usually by a spring contained Within the rheostat, it cuts in reslstance so as to decrease the speed of the motor and finally opens the motor circuit. In the embodiment shown, the movable arm of the rheostat has a rearwardly' projecting lip, shown at 15 in Fig. 2, and this rearwardly projecting portion of the arm is adapted to be en l aged by a forwardly projecting lip of a bel crank 16 which is pivotally supported on a bracket 17 attached to the rear wall 1()av of the cabinet, (see Figs. 1 and 2) preferably adjacent the right hand rear corner of the cabinet, i. e. toward the right hand end of ythe cabinet when viewed from the front.v To the lower short arm 16a of the bell crank is attached a spring 18 which normally returns the bell crank to normal position shown in Fig. 1. Below the bell crank and secured in the corner between the back wall 10a of the cabinet and the right hand end wall here designated l0b is a plate 19, the forward face of which is inclined as shown in Fig. 5. On the front side of, and-swiveled to this plate by a central tubular rivet 20 is a rotary cup-shaped member 2l with a forwardly and downwardly projecting annular peripheral ange, and seated in this cup so that it may rotate therewith and so that it may tilt with reference thereto is a cupped disk 22, this disk being'held from rotation with reference to the cup 21, but in a manner such that it may tilt with' reference thereto through the medium of the equivalent of a key 23 carried by the cup and engaging loosely in a notch at vthe periphery of the cupped disk 22. Passing loosely through the center of the disk 22 and through the tubular member 20 which connects the cup 21 to the plate 19 is a rod 24 which is connected to a link 25, one end of which is pivoted at 26 to a bracket 27 attached to the rearface of the plate 19, and the other end of the link 25 being connected by a rod 28 to the lower short arm 16a of the bell crank 16. Attached to the forward face of the cupped disk 221s a strap 29 through which the lower end of the rod 24 passes freely, and secured to this strap is the actuating member 30 of the control, preferably in the form of a wooden arm having an enlargement 3()a at its lower end.

The o eration of the control is as follows: t will be observed that inasmuch as the cup 21 and disk 22 are mounted to turn about a common axis, the actuating member may be swung or turned to a variety of positions; in fact, it may be revolved so as to describe a conical surface whose axis is the axis of the tubular member 20. Likewise, the actuating member and the disk 22 which is rigid therewith, may be rocked by swinging the lower or outer end of the actuating member in any direction, and when the actuating member is thus rocked, the disk is tipped or rocked on the base of the cup 21, the loose connection with the short rod 24 permitting this tipping or rocking action, and when the disk and actuating member are rocked relative to the cup 21 in the manner just stated, the rod 24 is pulled outward. This rocks the link 25 and through the rod 28 rocks the bell crank and therefore shifts the arm of the rheostat. It is to be understood that the spring 18 normally holds the actuating member 30 and disk 22 in ofi' or normal position with reference to the cup 21, regardless of the position to which the cup 21, disk 22 and actuating member 30 may be swung as a unit.

Preferably the actuating member is swung to either one of two operating positions, i. e. toa substantially vertical position, in which. event it reaches substantially to the floor or surface on which the sewing machine cabinet or stand rests, or to a substantially horizontal forwardly projecting position such that the actuating member may be rocked by the knee or leg, in which event it serves as a knee or leg control. I therefore prefer to provide between the plate 19 and the base of the cup 21 a detent which may be in the form of a ball 31, which is held in place by a strap 32 on the rear side of the plate 19 and more or less determines the two main operative positions referred to.

When the device is used as a foot control, it. is in the position A, shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, in which event the operator with her foot resting on the floor gives the actuating member a lateral movement with her foot, and this movement is suflicient to move the rheostat arm through its full distance. It is to be observed that the operator may move the actuating member either to the right or left, or laterally in any other direct-ion since the construction is such that irrespective of the direction in which the actuating member is thus rocked, the rheostat will be operated. When the slight pressure necessary to move the actuating member to running position is released, the actuating member is automatically returned to off position by the spring 18.

Should the operator desire to use the device as a knee or leg control the actuating member is swun up to the dotted line position designated in Fig. 2, in which event the actuating member projects forwardly at about the level of the knee and may be rocked to control the rheostat by lateral movement of the knee.

Furthermore, if the machine is not beingl used, the actuating member may be swung up out of the way, practically out of sight within the cabinet, in which event it occupies substantially the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and designated C.

It is to be understood that when the actuating member 30 is in either of its main operative positions, and is so held by the detent, the cupped disk 22 is not tipped but lies parallel with respect to the base of the cup 21, being held in that position by the rod 24 which is pulled back by the spring 18,-

which at the same time holds the bell crank which actuates the rheostat in normal or off position.

It will be seen, therefore, that the objects stated at the beginning of the specification are attained by this construction inasmuch as the operator will hold the lever displaced so as to run the `machine at any speed desired with her foot in comfortable position on the floor, and as her foot is resting on the floor or in a natural position, practically no physical effort is required to hold the actuating member in operative position, and consequently this act requires practically no conscious physical effort. And inasmuch as the actuating member has practically universal motion, if the operator is accustomed to a knee or leg control or should perchance prefer al knee or leg control, it is only necessary to swing the actuating member upwardly to position B to convert the mechanism from yin the appended claims.

a foot control 'to a knee or leg control. Furthermore, while the device is used as a foot control, it is not essential that the foot of the operator be shifted in any one direction to shift theactuating member so as to start and operate the motor, but as already brought out, the actuating member may be displaced laterally in any direction to secure the desired resul While I have shown one construction in which my invention may .be embodied, I do not desire to be confined to the precise details or arrangements shown, but the principles of the invention may be embodied in constructions and arrangements substantially different from that herein illustrated, and I aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit. and scope of my invention as defined Having described my invention, I claim: 1. The combination with a sewing machine having a driving motor, of a controller for the motor, and an actuating member for the controller supported so as to actuate the controller in a similar manner by being shifted in any one of a plurality of directions.

2. The combination with a sewing machine having a driving motor and a control- -ler therefor, of means for actuating the controller comprising a depending actuating member adapted to project substantially to the surface on which the sewing machine cabinet or stand rests, so that it may be. actuated by the footof the operator, and being laterally movable to and from normal position.

3. The combination with a sewing machine having a driving motor and a rheostat for controlling the same, of a controlling mechanism operatively connected to the rheostat and including an actuating member movable from oft' or normal position in a plurality of directions in different planes to actuate the rheostat.

4. In combination with an sewing machine having a driving motor and a controller, controller mechanism operatively connected to the controller and including an actuating member movable laterally from off or normal position in any direction to actuate the controller,

5. In combination with a. sewing machine having a driving motor and a controller therefor, a controlling device operatively connected to the controller and including an actuating member mounted so that it may be shifted from a position to serve as a foot control to a position in which it may serve as a knee or leg control, and operative to shift the controlling device in either position.

6. In combination with a sewing machine having a driving motor and a controller therefor, a lcontrolling mechanism comprising a'pair of connected devices including an actuating devicehaving universal connection with the other device so that it maybe shifted toa variety of positions.

7 In combination with a sewing'machine having a driving motor, a controller therefor, and actuating mechanism for the controller including an `actuating member movable from a position close to the-surface on which the machine stands so that'it may be used as a foot control to a substantially concealed position within the cabinet or stand of the machine.

8. In combination with al sewing machine having a driving motor and a rheostat for controlling the same, and an actu-ating mechanism for the rheostat operatively connected thereto and comprising two members adapted to rotate in unison and one tiltable with reference to the other.

9. In combination with a sewing machine having a driving motor and a rheostat for controlling the same, and an actuating mechanism for the rheostat operatively connected thereto and comprising two members adapted to rotate in unison and one tiltable in any direction with reference to the other. 10. In combination with a sewing machine -having a driving motor and a rheostat for controlllng the same, and an actuatingl mechanism for the rheostat operatively connected thereto and comprising two members one supported by the other and universally tiltable with reference thereto.

11. In combination with a sewing machine having a driving motor and a motor controlling rheostat,- a rheostatcontrolling mechanism comprising an actuating member and a part extending therefrom and operatively connected to the rheostat, said actuating member being rotatable with reference to said Apart.

12. In combination with a sewing machine having a driving motor and a motor controlling rheostat, a rheostat controlling mechanism comprising an actuating member and a part extending therefrom and operatively connected to the rheostat, said actuating member being supported so that it may have universaltilting motion with reference to said part.

13. In combination with a sewing machine having a driving motor and a motor controlling rheostat, a rheostat controlling mechanism comprising an actuating member and a part extending therefrom and operatively connected to the rheostat, said actuating member being supported so that it may be rotated and also tilted with reference to said art.

14. In combination with a sewing` machine having a driving motor and a motor controlling rheostat, a rheostat controlling mechanism comprising an actuating member and a part extending therefrom and operatively connected to the rheostat', said actuating member being supported so that it may be rotatedwith reference to said part and tilted in a variety of different directions to actuate said part.

signature.

. FOSTER F. HILLIX. 

